Rainfall in August had been the least in over a century.
India got 36% less rain than it usually does in the month.
Of the four monsoon months, August usually sees the most amount of rainfall (25.4 cm) after July’s 28 cm.
The last time India recorded such severe deficits in August was in 2005, when the shortfall was about 25% of the normal.
In 2009, India saw its biggest drought in half a century and August rainfall was 24% less than what was due.
Rainfall in August has brought the overall, national deficit to 10%.
The regional deficits are being 17% in east and northeast India, 10% in central India, and 17% in southern India.
Strengthening of the El Nino and unfavourable conditions both in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal August rainfall has been markedly deficient in most of India.